Woodgrain Delete: 1981 Jeep Wagoneer Limited

Here’s an interesting take on a classic, a 1981 Jeep Wagoneer Limited with no woodgrain trim and a backdated nose panel to the older design. There are a few ways to look at this Wagoneer: whether the previous owner made your life easier with the modifications, or whether reverting to the original configuration will be a burden. Either way, it’s a looker as it sits right now, if only for being so dramatically different from the hundreds of woodgrain-clad examples that reside on classifieds sites. Find this monotone Wagoneer here on eBay for $15,995 or best offer.

I kept looking at this truck trying to figure out why it stood out to me. It’s amazing how you can get accustomed to seeing an object in the same format over and over again, and then it takes you a moment to realize why it’s different. The missing woodgrain trim reminds us that this was a handsome design with or without the iconic detail on the doors and fenders, and it’s surprising more owners don’t opt for this approach when the original wood paneling perishes due to the sun exposure or other damage. The seller notes that the respray is an older paint job and shows plenty of light flaws. The wheels and tires present well, as do the chrome bumpers.

The interior is in good shape overall, with the leather seating surfaces mostly intact. I suspect these have been redone at some point, likely during the exterior refresh. However, the seller calls it “unrestored,” so perhaps it is original, but I doubt it; my guess is the Jeep got a light makeover over a decade ago, but nothing that rose to the level of being considered a full restoration. The switchgear shows significant wear, and you can see cosmetic flaws on the steering wheel. The listing also notes the headliner is sagging. Really, these are all so minor in the grand scheme of things; I would live with most of these shortcomings rather than try to make this truck perfect.

That’s the tricky thing with Wagoneers, however: a lot of people expect them to be perfect, at least if you’re trying to sell one. This Wagoneer slots into that “tweener” space where it’s nice enough to drive, but it looks like it’s missing something (i.e., the woodgrain). Ironically, if it were a bit more ratty, the woodgrain delete might look even more appealing. Regardless, it all comes down to the buyer, and if they simply want a Wagoneer, they can use one that doesn’t look like (or smell like) it was used as someone’s fishing rig for decades in the Outer Banks. The 5.9L V8 emits a reliable 140 horsepower and 228 lb-ft of torque, and the seller notes the A/C still works. Would you consider a Wagoneer like this or stick with the purist-preferred example?